NAACP: Racketeering charges unfair for some Lake Boyz members

The NAACP is calling for a review of charges leveled against several alleged members of the Harlem Lake Boyz Gang, arrested in a major bust.

NAACP members on Thursday met with families of the men arrested in connection to a drug and weapons bust. In January, Fort Myers police stormed the homes of alleged gang members in the Davis Court neighborhood.

Twenty-one people were arrested and later faced RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization) charges.

Neighbors on Thursday described the community as quiet as they've ever heard it.

Weeks ago, neighbors said that would not have been the case. The charges may have given some people a sense of security, but at the same time, they don't want charges to place the wrong person in jail.

At least 15 of the 21 in jail have a bond of up to $1,000,000 on racketeering.

It may have kept gang members off the streets, but James Muwakkil with the Lee County NAACP fears the perception it leaves behind. He argues that in reporting the arrests, the media dehumanized the men and that included the African-American community.

"Law enforcement arrested a lot of young black boys and men, that's what drew our attention," said Muwakkil.

Muwakkil explained that at first, they were unsure if the local NAACP was going to get involved. The tipping point was when the racketeering charges were brought forward, which consequently meant most of the young boys would be held with bonds they couldn't possibly pay.

Racketeering is a little-known charge with big consequences, said former prosecutor Virginia Gottman of Fort Myers.

"They're in a state of panic because their children's lives are at stake. I don't think they can be expected to begin to understand a very complex statute like a racketeering charge," said Gottman.

In a RICO, charges are at the discretion of prosecutors. Prosecutors can use prior convictions of one known gang member, combined with new charges from a known gang member to bring down a gang - as long as prosecutors can prove the crimes were all done for the same organized enterprise.

"It would be hard for you to find a black person or a white person who believes that all of these boys should be charged with racketeering," said Muwakkil.

Muwakkil agrees that some of the men were likely involved in dangerous activity, but they don't believe all the young men were as complicit as others.

By arresting all the young men and leveling serious charges to keep them in jail, Muwakkil said it only furthers the argument that African-American men are treated unfairly by the justice system.

"If you got one out of the group that you arrested, that should not have gotten arrested, that's one too many," said Muwakkil.

For James, quiet streets mean little, if there is no justice.

"Yes, we want the violence to go away, but we want it done right," said Muwakkil.

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